Aug 14, 2012

Coming up with healthy lunch ideas for young kids can be quite challenging, but here's an idea children can't resist... put their favorite food on a stick!

Trust me, it works. There is something about mini skewers that are so appealing to kids (and adults). Don't you love food on a stick!? Wouldn't your kids love to open their lunch boxes to find all their favorite foods on a stick!

My toddler isn't big on sandwiches yet, but if I give her all the elements from a sandwich and place them on a stick her face lights up and she happily eats it. In fact while photographing the food for this post, both of my kids stood by and waited for me to finish so they could eat it.

Use the foods they like, cut them into fun shapes and put it on a stick!

For teens skewers would work fine, but for younger kids I would use coffee stirrers, popsicle sticks, toothpicks or even mini straws. Here are some ideas that both my toddler and teen loved. I pack an ice pack in the lunch box so the food stays cool.

Mini Caprese Skewers

Grape tomatoes and mini mozzarella balls layered on a stick. If you cut the tomatoes in half diagonally they look like small hearts. For older kids add basil in between the tomatoes and pack a small container of balsamic vinaigrette.Mini Shrimp, Tomato and Cucumber Skewers

My toddler recently discovered she loves shrimp. These mini skewers are made with all her favorite foods. Use a cookie cutter for the cucumbers and you won't have to even peel them! If you want to make these for adults, add some feta cheese and olives and turn them into cute Greek Salad Skewers! Buttermilk Ranch Dressing is perfect for dipping.

Mini Ham, Cheese and Tomato Skewers

It's almost like a chef's salad on a stick. You could use turkey and whatever cheese your children enjoy. Pack a roll or some crackers on the side.

57 comments
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I made fruit skewers for a family reunion 2 years ago and they flew out of the container and people RAVED about them. It was as easy as putting the pieces on a skewer so whether you're a kid or a kid at heart, skewer foods rock! :)

I think my husband would love these options! He'll be going to night school and will only have 30 minutes between work and school. We're packing dinners for him, so having to get creative!

I've had the same thing happen with fruit skewers as mentioned above. This past year for mother's day I made fruit skewers as our "dessert". Everyone raved about it! I'm like, "ummm.... it's fruit..... on a stick." LOL

I love these ideas, however the schools here won't allow skewers to be brought in. They consider them a "weapon" b/c of the pointed end. They assume children will poke/stab each other with them. But I will certainly use it for my husband and for next summers reunion. It is also a good idea for the holidays. Thanks!

This was exactly my first thought. I LOVE the idea and they're so adorable. However, as an elementary school teacher, I would ask the parents not to send them in if the school didn't ask first. I don't think all kids would poke people with them, but it's definitely a hazard.

Twice now you've photographed school lunch in a tin. Is that how you send it or is that for presentation's sake? Tell me more!? (Coldness, cleanliness, ease..). Love you and all your ideas! I check my RSS feed multiple times a day to see if you've surprised me with a new brilliant recipe!

So, you can really send shrimp to school with the kids and have it be safe come lunch time? Because I love this idea (no soggy sandwiches!) but wasn't sure if the shrimp would actually stay good that long. (My son loves shrimp, so he would flip over this!)

I also have a non-sandwitch eater and to make it more complicated her school is vegeterian, nut free and no refined sugars. I had forgotten how much she likes food on a stick, thanks for the reminder. If you cut a hot dog or vege dog into rounds then in half, skewer them with the round sides together it makes a butterfly. Love the lunch ideas, keep em commin and don't forget us vege lunchers :)

Both my kids love a grape with a piece of cheese on a toothpick. I've also done apple tossed with a little lemon juice and a piece of cheese, but the grape cheese combo is always their favorite. I like the stir stick idea too as a safety issue. Sometimes I serve my kids dinner with a toothpick too instead of silverware. Makes it more fun to eat!

This is super cute! I may try this (with a coffee stirrer) for my first grader. For the older two, it's all about maximizing the FOOD because they're always starving. I cram those lunch boxes FULL of nutrient dense foods. No space to waste on sticks and cuteness! :-)

Today I packed them peanut butter and banana honey sandwiches on whole grain bread, triscuits and cheddar cheese, an apple, grapes, and fresh veggies with hummus.

Please don't let your toddler eat shrimp! It is not food. They are the clean up crew of the ocean. When the ocean is tested for toxins etc. they test shellfish for a reason! The shrimps job is to clean, not to be food.